Post #515654 by Johnny Dollar on Sun, Mar 7, 2010 8:11 AM

On 2010-03-07 06:34, WyrdNet wrote:
The Aloha Restaurant in Charlotteville was the first place I discovered Tiki. I took a date there in about 1981, and when I graduated from UVA in 1982, my whole family went there to celebrate.

This was a large, clean restaurant with a fair amount of bamboo and thatch, but not over the top. Lots of tiki touches, typically Americanized Chinese food that I remember as being very good, and great drinks. The only drink I remember the taste of was the scorpion, still one of my favorites.

Although it's hard for me to compare with such an early experience, Aloha set the standard for me. Later in the 80s, I visited Hawaii Kai in NYC, and in the 90s, Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, Trader Vic's in Hollywood, Honolulu in Alexandria, VA, and Kahiki Supper Club in Columbus. And many more after that, from Honolulu to Koblenz. (I'll have to post links to my essays... I'm new to this site. I had some entries in Tiki Road Trip too.)

Between the highs and lows, Aloha holds its own, and I don't think I would be alone in that opinion.

I don't think I have any pictures from there, I'll post a photo of a matchbook when I get a chance.

that would be kick ass, wyrdnet! thanks for filling in more history! :)